Citizenship and Climate Adaptation: Participatory Experiences from Rome to Friuli Venezia Giulia

On October 17th, an online event titled “Citizenship and Climate Adaptation: Participatory Experiences from Rome to Friuli Venezia Giulia” focused on the exploration of citizen engagement approaches adopted in the two different Italian cities/regions.

With the help of Edoardo Zanchini (director of the Rome Climate Office) and Paolo De Alti, (Director of the Water Resources Management Services of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region), we explored the different challenges related to citizens engagement for climate adaptation, and how the Pilot City (Rome) supported the Follower Region (Friuli Venezia Giulia).

Read a summary of the event here.

The Peer-to-Peer discussion highlighted two main learnings: 

1. The need to continue citizen engagement in the implementation phase:
   the citizens involved during the development phase of Rome’s Climate Adaptation Strategy expressed interest in continuing the participation process also in the following phases
2. The wish for tailored engagement methodologies to tackle different challenges: in Rome one challenge is maintaining a dialogue with local committees and groups advocating for specific interventions, who are more difficult to involve if not by directly addressing their requests. In Friuli Venezia Giulia water scarcity represents a problem of cultural approach and lifestyles, rather than disinformation, and it poses challenges to engage citizens and to gain their support. Tailored engagement methodologies can support the regions to address the different issues and to foster behavioural change in face of a changing climate. 

Is there something from that conversation that stuck with you?
Do you have any questions for your peers on these topics?

Feel free to leave your comments to continue the discussion here!